Cardiovascular risk factors and Alzheimer's disease: a genetic associationstudy in a population aged 85 or over

Increasing evidence suggests a relation between vascular disorders and late -onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). We performed an association analysis of lo w-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), lipoprotein lipase (L PL), and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genes, known to be involved in vascular disorders, and AD. Genotyping was carried out in 113 patients wit h clinically defined Alzheimer's disease (NINCDS-ADRDA criteria) and 203 no n-demented controls in a prospective, population-based study of people aged 85 years or over (Vantaa 85+ Study). Corresponding analysis was performed on 121 neuropathologically verified AD patients (CERAD criteria) and 75 con trols derived from the same study population. We did not find significant a ssociations between the polymorphisms studied and AD. However, analysis of the LPL polymorphism showed a weak trend (uncorrected P-value 0.095) toward s protection against neuropathologically defined AD. Our study is based on very elderly Finns. Therefore, further studies are warranted in other popul ations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.